Inspiral Carpets are one of those bands that have spent a big portion of their career touring their former glories, but you still don’t think they’re in it for the money.

They still do this for the enjoyment of touring. When they got back together as older musicians in 2003, it made sense.

The return of original singer Stephen Holt for the departed Tom Hingley has meant that they wanted to add some new material to their repertoire. Inspiral Carpets are still as hungry as ever.

“When Stephen came back in the band we suddenly started writing again. To me, the buzz is as good as it ever was, or better really,” says keyboard player Clint Boon.

“We’ve just put the album out and the reactions have been brilliant for it. It’s a really easy thing these days. Stress free and 100 per cent fun.”

Line-up changes can be an issue for any band. They famously nearly had Noel Gallagher as their frontman but ultimately went with Tom Hingley.

“The worst was when Stephen left the first time. In 1988 he left the band and we had no singer.

“That’s when we auditioned Noel Gallagher but eventually we found Tom Hingley and he stayed with us for 20 years or so.

“Our first ever TV appearance was with Tony Wilson when Stephen had just left. We had to do an instrumental version of Directing Traffic.”

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The band, it seems, still retain the fire that they had in their youth and believe in their new material.

“It excites me in a lot of different ways – one is the nostalgia of it and another is that we’re all at this stage in our lives with kids and we’ve still got a band that sounds like that,” says Clint.

The band released their self-titled album last October and come to Birmingham’s O2 Academy on December 7.

“It’s the truest album we’ve made. I also love that it sounds like the same band that made the Dung Four album. We recorded it in 1987 and it only came out this year.”

“I remember some of the first gigs we did in Birmingham. There used to be a club called Sinatra’s. It was in an old concrete building and the support band where called the Australians, who eventually became Space. Our dressing room was the kitchen.

“So, while they were soundchecking, we ate loads of chilli provided by the promoters then put loads of spicy stuff in it to make it really hot for them. Then they all came in and ate it and they were sweating their b*****ks off. So yeah, we poisoned Space’s chilli. They know about it anyway I’ve discussed it with them since.

“Birmingham and Wolverhampton have always been great places with nice people who love to party.”

Clint Boon has a show on XFM Manchester every weeknight as well as four DJ sets a week on top of playing keys for Inspiral Carpets.

“They all go hand in hand and help to promote each other. In terms to which I prefer, all three are amazing different ways but obviously the ultimate buzz is getting on stage and performing a song that you’ve written.

“The preparation to get you to that moment is a great kick but a long trip. Whereas as a DJ you just turn up with a bag, play some songs and people go mad. DJing is more like a quick fix. Being on the radio is great because you just talk b*****ks in between great songs and people seem to love it.”

You’d expect such a busy man to be short of energy to indulge in revelry as he did in his youth. There might be a little bit of substance to that argument but it’s not entirely true. They can be quiet after a show, but there are still times when he lets loose.

“We come off-stage, have a bit of a drink for an hour or so in the dressing room, and then we get on the bus and go to sleep. We’re not up all night partying like we used to be.

“Having said that, I do a lot of Club DJ’ing and I was out on Saturday with my wife and friends after a set until six in the morning. So I can still party, just not as much as I used to do.”

Inspiral Carpets play Birmingham O2 Academy on December 7. Tickets are still available from here.